Get the Right Domain Name

Getting the right domain name for your website is important – your choice of domain name can make or break your website.  Here are some tips on how to choose a good domain name.

1. Choose a name that effectively states what your website is about.

There is nothing wrong with being obvious. Think about what your website can offer and use that idea when choosing your domain name. Of course you can go out of your way to be creative. But sometimes, you’ll be surprised at how obvious names and the simplest ones can generate more site visits than any other creative domain name. Be as specific as possible. Many people go to the internet without an idea of where to go. Capitalize on that and lead them all to your website.

2. Choose a name that is easy to remember.

Avoid domain names that are too long and are difficult to remember. Stay clear of those that are painfully hard to spell. People need names that they could remember at the drop of a hat. And surely, you’d want something that they can correctly spell at the first try. Generally speaking, hyphens, dashes, underscores and numbers are not advised for use on a domain name. Using them may just lead to confusing situations.

3. Try to think of a name that rings a bell.

This might seem contradictory with my first advice, but the best advice, really, is to use a name that will work well with users. It is the same as having to think of a name for your band or a title for your own original song or home video. There is no sure fire way to explain it. But if you really think about it, you’ll know if a name sounds good and if it doesn’t. Some domain names are just brilliant. They’re witty, memorable, and most of all, they manage to convey what the whole website is all about.

While a domain name in an of itself will not save a website that sucks, a good domain name can give your website a competitive advantage.  Take the time to think up a great domain name for your website.

Domain Registration

When you are ready to register your domain, here are some places where you can register a domain:

Domain Monster – Reputable registrar that offers domain registration services.

Discount Domains UK – UK based registrar.

Domain Aftermarket

Often, you will find that your desired domain name is unavailable.  Rather than try to come up with a second rate alternative, such as adding articles like ‘my’ or ‘the’ to the name, you may wish to buy a previously registered domain.  This is known as the domain aftermarket.

You can buy domains in the aftermarket at:

Buy Domain Name – United Kingdom based domain aftermarket.

Some people even treat domains as investments.  They are known as domainers.  You can learn more about domainers at:

Domain Bits – Leading blog describing the basics of how to invest in domains.

INForum – Forum that discusses Indian domaining.

Domain Whois

If you want to find out who owns a domain, you can look up the ownership record, known as the whois information:

DNWhois – Domain whois lookup.

Leave a Reply